Framing clamp

ABSTRACT

A framing clamp for aiding in the assembly and repair of frame construction, comprising a plurality of corner members, a strap trained over said corner members and a method of applying tension to said strap to apply compressive forces to the corner members and to the frame elements. The tensioning means involves hinged extensions of the projecting legs of the corner members which, when placed in perpendicular disposition relative to the long axis of the projecting legs applies tension to the encircling strap and co-acts therewith, to apply compressive forces to the corner members and to the frame elements held in engagement thereby.

United States Patent 1 1 Fall: et al.

1 1 Oct. 2, 1973 1 i FRAMING CLAMP [76] Inventors: Donald G. Falk, 147 Tanglewood Dr., Louisville, Ky. 40223; Gerhard I. Konermann, 5510 Briscoe Ln., Louisville, Ky.

[22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 205,063

Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Attorney-William R. Price [57] ABSTRACT A framing clamp for aiding in the assembly and repair of frame construction, comprising a plurality of corner members, a strap trained over said corner members and a method of applying tension to said strap to apply compressive forces to the corner members and to the frame elements. The tensioning means involves hinged extensions of the projecting legs of the corner members which, when placed in perpendicular disposition relative to the long axis of the projecting legs applies tension to the encircling strap and co-acts therewith, to apply compressive forces to the corner members and to the frame elements held in engagement thereby.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FRAMING CLAMP FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in framing clamps and specifically to improvements in the method of applying tension to the encircling strap surrounding the corner members of a framing clamp, used to align position and rigidly hold frame elements in position to form an integral frame structure. The invention relates to improved framing clamps which provide a concentration of compressive forces across the frame elements, especially at the corners, in such a manner that virtually guarantees the success of framing jobs. More specifically, this invention relates to a framing clamp wherein nails, screws, dowel pins or the like are not needed to form an integral frame structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Framing clamps are relatively old in the art, having been disclosed as early as 1908 by Wichers in U.S. Pat. No. 891,121. Generally, such clamps have utilized a series of corner members over which a strap or cable is trained and tension is applied to the strap or cable by means of a threaded screw or turnbuckle. See, for example, the more modern patents to Graham U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,224,754, and 3,493,224. While Graham certainly discloses a more compact framing device than does Wichers, nevertheless, such devices have tended to be somewhat bulky and cumbersome and difficult to use by a single person.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a compact and simple framing clamp is disclosed utilizing an extension of the projecting leg of the comer member as the tensioning means. By use of this framing device the bulky and cumbersome clamp of Wichers and the turnbuckle of Graham are completely eliminated. This is accomplished by the use of a hinged extension for each of the projecting legs of the corner member. The hinged extensions are equidistantly placed from the corner of the corner member. Each extension is pivotable from a first position where its long axis lies parallel to the long axis of said projecting leg to a second position where the long axis of the elongated member is perpendicular relative to the long axis of the projecting leg. Thus, the strap, held in fixed relation by a simple loop buckle, can be placed under tension by pivoting the hinged extension of the projecting legs of each corner member from a first position parallel to the long axis of the projecting legs into tensioning engagement with the strap, normal to the projecting legs, so as to apply pressure to the corner member and to the frame elements forming the frame structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE'DRAWING Referring now to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the corner member and strap of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is aside elevational view, illustrating in full lines the corner member of my invention in tensioning enagement with said strap and illustrating in dotted lines, the corner member in released position.

FIGS. 3 through 6 are sectional views illustrating the channel construction of the leg of the comer member in relation to the peripheral edges of the various shaped frame elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in detail, the corner member 1 is used in relation with strap 2 which contains a conventional two loop buckle 3 at one end. The frame element 4 is illustrated as mitered at point 5 to form a corner juncture according to standard practice. The corner member 1 consists of projecting leg 10 and projecting leg 11, forming angle 12 which in most cases is The corner member in a preferred embodiment is fabricated of a high molecular weight flexible polymer such as polypropelene so that hinges may be molded into the member as an integral part thereof. Such a hinge 15 is illustrated and forms part of the hinged extension 16 joining the projecting leg 11 to the elongated member 18. It will be noted that the projecting legs 10 and 11 are fabricated in channel form having a central web portion 20 and projecting sides 21. The hinged extension 16 is also in the form of a channel having a centrally disposed web 22 and projecting side members 23. Actually, the web of projecting legs 10 and 11 is continuous with the web 23 of the hinged extension 16 and are assigned different numbers to differentiate the two members. It will be noted, however, that the side members 21 of the projecting legs 10 and 11 project inwardly toward the frame elements whereas the projecting side members 23 are disposed in the opposite direction, projecting away from the frame elements 4. A strap passage 24 extends through the web 22 of the elongated member 18 and the side members 23 act as strap guide means for the strap 2 when it is in relaxed position. Since the corner bracket is fabricated of polypropelene or other flexible plastic material, a slot 25 is provided in the side members 21 of the projecting legs 10 and 11 so as to form a hinge member 26 at the angle 12 formed by the two projecting legs 10 and 11. Another slot 29 is provided on the other side of hinge 26. As will be noted in FIGS. 3 6, the channel construction of the projecting legs 10 and 11 provide an adaptable means so as to fit most any configuration of frame element.

MODE OF OPERATION OF THE INVENTION In order to prepare an integral frame structure, the frame elements 4 are arranged so that the mitered edges 5 form a corner juncture. The projecting legs 10 and l l of the corner member 1 are placed over the corner juncture and the strap 2 is pulled taut to remove the slack and fastened in position by buckle 3. Assuming now that glue has been applied to the mitered surfaces, tension is now applied to the strap merely by pulling the hinged extensions 18 into a perpendicular position relative to the projecting legs 10 and 11, as illustrated by the arrows. Thus, assuming that the hinged members 15 and tee strap passages 24 of elongated members 18 are equidistantly placed from the corner of the bracket 1, the pressure points 30 are equal, thus forcing the joint together in a 90 or square configuration. Tension, then is applied to each of the corner members, merely by pulling the hinged extensions 16 into the second position, perpendicular to the projecting legs 10 and l l and thereby placing tension upon strap member 2.

As previously indicated, the slot 25 and slot 29 are provided so as to form a hinged member 26 at the 90 angle formed by the juncture of projecting legs 10 and 11. This will allow the corner member to be used in making frames having angles smaller or larger than 90.

While in a preferred embodiment, the hinges of this invention are provided by the flexible nature of the polymeric material used as the material of fabrication, it is quite possible to utilize a pin and hinge arrangement with other materials of fabrication. Nevertheless, in the preferred embodiment, the hinges are provided and are molded into the corner members as an integral part thereof merely by providing slots 29, 25, etc. in the side members of the channel member forming the projecting legs. Thus, the web or 22 formed of the flexible polypropylene acts as a hinge.

While a strap has been disclosed as the encircling member, it should be obvious that a cable or flexible band may be used with equal proficiency so long as it can be easily fastened together in a non slack arrangement and thereafter placed in tensioning engagement with the elongated members of the hinged extension.

Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art from the detailed description hereinabove given and such is meant to be exemplary in nature and non limiting except so as to be commensurate in scope with the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A clamp for aligning and engaging frame elements of an integral frame member, which comprises:

A. a series of corner members, each corner member having projecting legs which define an angle and which fit over a corner of the assembled frame member;

B. a strap trained over the corner of said corner members for applying pressure to said corner members and to said frame elements forming the corner juncture;

C. fastening means for fastening said strap;

D. the improvement in said corner member of a strap engaging and tensioning means which comprises: 1. a hinged extension for each of said projecting legs, said extension including an elongated memher and a hinge, said hinge connecting said elongated member to said projecting leg, and said elongated member being pivotable between:

a. a first position in which its long axis lies parallel with the long axis of said projecting leg, and,

b. a second position in which its long axis is perpendicular to the long axis of said projecting leg; c. said elongated member lying in loose engagement with said strap in said first position and in tensioning engagement with said strap to apply pressure to said corner member and to said frame element in said second position.

2. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, in which:

A. the hinge for each of said hinged extensions of said projecting legs are equidistantly spaced from the corner of said corner member.

3. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, in which the elongated members of said hinged extensions for each of said projecting legs are of equal length.

4. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, in which each of the projecting legs are in the form of an inverted channel, the channel comprising side members and a center web, said channel being adapted to engage the peripheral edges of said frame elements.

5. A clamp, as defined in claim 4, in which said elongated members forming the hinged extensions of said corner members are in the form of a channel, the web of said channel lying in the same plane as the web of said channel of said projecting leg, and the side members of said channel, projecting in the opposite direction to the direction of the side members of said projecting leg, said side members serving as guide means for said strap.

6. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, in which each of said elongated members of said hinged extensions of said corner member contain a strap engagement passage through which said strap is threaded, each of said strap engagement passages being equidistantly spaced from the corner of said corner member.

7. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, the further improvement of a hinge joining the two projecting legs of said corner member together.

8. A clamp, as defined in claim 7, in which said corner member is fabricated of a flexible high molecular weight polymer and said hinge is molded into said member so as to form an integral part thereof.

9. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, in which said corner member is fabricated of a flexible high molecular weight polymer, and said hinge is molded into said member as an integral part thereof. 

1. A clamp for aligning and engaging frame elements of an integral frame member, which comprises: A. a series of corner members, each corner member having projecting legs which define an angle and which fit over a corner of the assembled frame member; B. a strap trained over the corner of said corner members for applying pressure to said corner members and to said frame elements forming the corner juncture; C. fastening means for fastening said strap; D. the improvement in said corner member of a strap engaging and tensioning means which comprises:
 1. a hinged extension for each of said projecting legs, said extension including an elongated member and a hinge, said hinge connecting said elongated member to said projecting leg, and said elongated member being pivotable between: a. a first position in which its long axis lies parallel with the long axis of said projecting leg, and, b. a second position in which its long axis is perpendicular to the long axis of said projecting leg; c. said elongated member lying in loose engagement with said strap in said first position and in tensioning engagement with said strap to apply pressure to said corner member and to said frame element in said second position.
 2. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, in which: A. the hinge for each of said hinged extensions of said projecting legs are equidistantly spaced from the corner of said corner member.
 3. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, in which the elongated members of said hinged extensions for each of said projecting legs are of equal length.
 4. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, in which each of the projecting legs are in the form of an inverted channel, the channel comprising side members and a center web, said channel being adapted to engage the peripheral edges of said frame elements.
 5. A clamp, as defined in claim 4, in which said elongated members forming the hinged extensions of said corner members are in the form of a channel, the web of said channel lying in the same plane as the web of said channel of said projecting leg, and the side members of said channel, projecting in the opposite direction to the direction of the side members of said projecting leg, said side members serving as guide means for said strap.
 6. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, in which each of said elongated members of said hinged extensions of said corner member contain a strap engagement passage through which said strap is threaded, each of said strap engagement passages being equidistantly spaced from the corner of said corner member.
 7. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, the further improvement of a hinge joining the two projecting legs of said corner member together.
 8. A clamp, as defined in claim 7, in which said corner member is fabricated of a flexible high molecular weight polymer and said hinge is molded into said member so as to form an integral part thereof.
 9. A clamp, as defined in claim 1, in which said corner Member is fabricated of a flexible high molecular weight polymer, and said hinge is molded into said member as an integral part thereof. 